Every day in the park

-- by Prof. Dr. Jyotirmay Biswas, Director of Uveitis & Ocular Pathology, Department, Sankara Nethralaya

I don’t know who created Jeeva Park, nor when it was built. But one thing’s for sure: it’s a charming little piece of heaven near our home, well-known and beloved by many. I’ve been coming to this park for at least 20 years now. Right in the heart of the park stands a majestic banyan tree, which has become a bit of a legend itself. Beneath its sprawling branches rests a black stone idol of Lord Ganesha.

Every single morning, without fail, a devoted ritual takes place. Ganesha gets pampered with a milk bath,coconuts are cracked, and Guptaji, the owner of a nearby cloth shop, supervises the whole process with dedication. Worshippers flock here from the surrounding neighborhoods. Some devotees perform a ritual we Bengalis find quite unusual – they squat and rise repeatedly while holding their ears crossed, as if they’re completing a punishment. It’s fascinating, to say the least!

Every day, without fail, a priest arrives at the park to perform the puja, while a small, devoted crowd gathers around him. Everyone eagerly reaches out to touch the arathi flame and collect the vibhuti. It’s a ritual that happens like clockwork, day in and day out.

But there’s more to Jeeva Park than just the puja. Inside, there are two well-maintained badminton courts, and the competition for a spot is always fierce. While tempers occasionally flare, those squabbles are rare. At one end of the park, there’s a play area for children under 15, filled with swings and slides. It’s a heartwarming sight to see grandfathers bring their grandchildren here.

The main attraction, though, is the walking or jogging track. On busy mornings, you’ll find at least a hundred people pacing around. The sign says each lap is 400 meters, though I’m not entirely sure it’s accurate. My personal spot is the cemented platform where we gather for yoga every day, with amazing consistency – unless, of course, the rain gods intervene.

Recently, someone drew a few figure-eights in one section of the park. Some say walking along these shapes brings peace and prosperity. Who knows?

People come to the park even before the break of dawn. At exactly 5 AM, the gates swing open, and the early birds – walkers and joggers – start trickling in. By 6 O’clock, the park is bustling. You’ve got the “regularly regulars” who never miss a day, the “regularly irregulars” who pop in now and then, and of course, the “irregularly irregulars” who show up on a whim!

At one end of the park, there’s a big clock perched on a stand. Not only does it chime the hour, but at 6 AM sharp, it announces something extra in Tamil. Whatever it says, it adds a unique touch to the park’s morning vibe! I have not yet figured it out what it is.

Walking along the track is a well-organised and harmonious affair. There’s even a Jeeva Park Walkers’ and Joggers’ Association! Though joggers are few in number, they often have to weave through clusters of walkers. Many of the faces are familiar, but honestly, I know only a few by name. One of them is Sankaran Sir – 85 years young! I believe he’s the one who writes the day’s wisdom on the park board.

Some of the walkers are actually my patients. They never miss a chance to give me an update on their eye health and ask when they should come in for a check-up! Once you start coming here regularly, you’ll notice all kinds of walkers with their own unique styles, often strolling in groups.

As you walk around the track, you can overhear snippets of conversation about last night’s cricket match, the latest scams, and politics – there’s always something buzzing! Some people walk like they’re on fire, rushing ahead as if in a race, while others stroll leisurely, taking their own sweet time. The younger crowd often has earphones plugged in, phones in hand, while the elders carry pocket radios, usually tuned to religious songs – M.S. Subbulakshmi’s Suprabhatam is the favorite.

It’s not just walking that keeps people busy. Plenty are engaged in free-hand exercises. You wouldn’t believe how many different types there are! The most primitive one, though, has to be good old-fashioned squatting.

I’ve seen it all – some people even bring skipping ropes and do hundreds of spot jumps! I envy their tenacity and fitness. And if you come here, you’ll also discover just how many types of sports shoes exist. Most of them are, of course, branded. Whether it’s a status symbol, I’m not sure, but shoe companies would have a field day surveying how many walkers prefer Nike, Reebok, or Adidas. Then there are those who don’t care at all – some even stroll in chappals!

You’ll see all kinds of people in the park. After all, everyone knows that regular exercise is essential to ward off lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension. India, unfortunately, ranks second in diabetes, with a staggering 67 million diabetics – a figure that’s hard to ignore.

I walk too, but not regularly. However, I never miss my daily yoga session. And no, I’m not following Baba Ramdev! I do yoga simply to keep my body flexible and fit. It doesn’t just care for the body – it also nourishes the mind and soul, something other exercises can’t quite achieve. We start right on the dot every morning at 6:00 AM, with Omkar. We chant “Om,” which is a wonderful way to begin with a touch of spirituality.

Our group is small – about 12 on a good day. There’s Jamuna, Muthulakshmi, Viji (who always wears a different colored T-shirt every day – I think she’s got one for each day of the week!), and bearded Naresh. I don’t know everyone’s name, but these familiar faces make the practice even more enjoyable.

Our chief guruji, Sarveswara Rao, comes every Monday and Tuesday. He just celebrated his 80th birthday a few months ago! While he needs a bit of help when walking, the moment he sits on his yoga mat, he transforms into a completely different personality. He demonstrates each asana with its meaning in his unique style.

I must admit, I can’t always do the asanas as they should be done. My “MP state” (Madhya Pradesh) tends to get in the way – let’s just say my tummy has a mind of its own!

But I’ve definitely improved over time! Before coming here, I had no idea there were so many different asanas. Some are pretty tough, like Bakkasana (the crane pose). But my favorite is Shanti Asana, also known as Shavasana – you just lie on your back with your hands at your sides. Blissful!

And how can I forget Anandasana? You sit down, stretch out your arms, and laugh as loudly as you can. The whole park vibrates with laughter! There are also some asanas with quirky names, like Titli Asana (butterfly pose), Nouka Asana (boat pose), and Marjari Asana (cat pose), where you mimic a cat’s stretch.

Our guruji is a nice and humble man, and I really like him! But sometimes he says things that make me chuckle – like when he claims that lying on your right side will improve diabetes, and turning to the left will help with hypertension. He can be a bit naïve! He even suggests eye exercises that have questionable benefits.

The funny part is when he says, “No hurry-burry, relax for two seconds,” and then immediately moves on to the next asana. For him, two seconds feels like an eternity! We manage to finish twenty asanas in about 45 minutes, giving our whole body a great stretch. You leave feeling supple and fit.

But between you and me, I have two friendly pieces of advice: first, avoid trying asanas in cheap or old tracksuits. Trust me, they can rip in, shall we say, risky areas! You definitely don’t want that happening – especially with a fair number of ladies around! And of course, make sure to freshen up nicely before joining the yoga session.

As soon as you enter the park, you’ll spot a blackboard where someone regularly shares nuggets of wisdom in both English and Tamil. It’s always uplifting to read these messages! For example, today’s gem was: “It’s the hour of trial that makes man great, not the hour of triumph.” It really sets a reflective tone for the day!

The walkers’ association keeps track of the birthdays of regular walkers, and it’s always a delight to see your name on the blackboard on your special day! Interestingly, I share my birthday with someone named Muthusamy. On that day, we both perform a special puja for the Ganesha.

Today was a special occasion as it was Mr. Sankaran Sir’s birthday (in Tamil Nadu, “Sir” is a term of respect). He turned eighty-five! All the walkers wished him well, and some of us, including me, touched his feet as a sign of respect. I heard that he acted in many films during his younger days. He walks slowly and silently, but the real life of the park is Desikan Sir. He’s always cheerfully saying, “Have a good day!” and “Enjoy!” He even sings some Ganesh bhajans, although the tune is quite far from the original!

He carries a colorful bag and distributes calendars to both familiar faces and newcomers. Each calendar features a picture of some deity, spreading a bit of joy along with it!

The front of the park is not just interesting; it’s also quite useful! You’ll find a woman selling a mix of common and rare vegetables, along with fresh fruits. Family men often don’t forget to grab a few veggies and fruits on their way home, feeling accomplished for checking two things off their list in one go!

I usually find some time to buy fruits or vegetables from her. Although she doesn’t speak English or Hindi, and I’m not fluent in Tamil (I should be ashamed after living here for at least thirty years!), we manage just fine using sign language or by pulling out a note and showing it.

Many people also take advantage of the free blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight check-ups available, even though everyone knows it’s just a clever marketing trick for local hospitals. These days, hospitals are everywhere, and they’re eager to attract patients! During election season, aspiring MLAs and MPs come here to meet the walkers, dressed in traditional Tamil attire and always accompanied by a trail of support staff.

This park is truly vibrant! It celebrates New Year, Republic Day, Independence Day, Tamil New Year, Telugu New Year, and Pongal with enthusiasm. On Ganesh Chaturthi, the park takes on a festive flair that’s hard to miss.

Not only do I practice yoga, but I also take every opportunity to walk. While strolling, I love reciting Tagore’s poems, especially longer ones like Shishutirtha (an epic poem by Rabindranath Tagore), which takes me about 17 minutes to recite from memory. But who can outshine the gentleman who sits on a towel, chanting Sanskrit shlokas from five in the morning to six without a break?

And then there’s a bearded young man who talks animatedly for hours, gesturing with his hands. At first, I thought he was a bit eccentric, but I later discovered that he’s actually a TV producer! While he walks, he networks with all his assistants, seamlessly blending work and fitness.

Once upon a time, about twenty years ago, I was serious about running. I completed two marathons – one in Los Angeles and another in Delhi. Back then, I was young and full of energy, practicing in Jeeva Park for a half marathon. I would start my runs at 8 pm, and even by 9 pm, I was in full swing! That was also the closing time for the park caretaker.

Despite a few warnings in Tamil (which I, of course, didn’t understand), I kept going. Eventually, the caretaker gave up and locked the gate. After finishing my practice, I climbed over the gate and jumped down to exit.

The next day, for some reason, I decided to start my run at the crack of dawn, around 5 AM, when it was still dark. Seeing me again, the caretaker was so frightened that he shouted and ran away, convinced I must be a ghost!

Walkers at Jeeva Park sport a delightful variety of T-shirts, some adorned with humorous slogans that never fail to bring a smile. One T-shirt boldly states, “I am not arguing, I am simply explaining why I am right,” while another proudly proclaims, “I love NY (New York).”

One day, I spotted a gentleman walking with the plastic clip still attached to his T-shirt, the very clip used for hanging clothes to dry! Each day brings something interesting to our Jeeva Park. While I’m sure other parks have their charm, there’s something uniquely captivating about Jeeva Park that keeps me returning every day.